Protective enclosure for electronic device

ABSTRACT

A protective enclosure for an electronic device such as a laptop computer or tablet computer that comprises a shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding the electronic device. The shell is substantially watertight, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant. The inside of the shell has a hook and loop liner with shock absorbing corner bumpers having hook and loop type bases so that the bumpers may attach at any point on the liner inside the shell to accommodate electronic devices of various sizes and to secure the device inside the enclosure in a shock absorbent suspended manner. The shell may further comprise a USB connector hub for connection to the USB port of a laptop computer or PC tablet enclosed in the protective shell.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/456,157, entitled “Protective Enclosure for ElectronicDevice,” by Curtis R. Richardson, filed Jul. 7, 2006, which applicationis a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/937,048entitled “Protective Enclosure for an Interactive Flat-Panel ControlledDevice” by Curtis R. Richardson et al., filed Sep. 8, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,158,376. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/937,048 is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/645,439entitled “Protective Membrane to Touch Screen Device” by Curtis R.Richardson and Douglas A. Kempel, filed Aug. 20, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No.6,995,976. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/645,439 is a continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/300,200 entitled “Protective Casefor Touch Screen Device” by Curtis R. Richardson, filed Nov. 19, 2002,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,864 which claims the benefit of and priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/335,865 filed Nov. 19,2001 by Curtis R. Richardson entitled “Protective Case for Touch ScreenDevice.” The entire contents of the above mentioned applications arehereby specifically incorporated herein by reference for all theydisclose and teach.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable electronic devices (PEDs), such as PDAs, computers, MP3players, music players, video players, smart phones, GPS receivers,telematics devices, cell phones, satellite phones, pagers, monitors,etc., are being very widely used, and are being deployed in industrialas well as office environments. PEDs are being used in industrialenvironments for data collection, such as service information on anairplane, or for data delivery such as maps for fire fighters and otheremergency personnel. When PEDs are deployed in such industrialapplications, the data that is collected and displayed on the PED can beextremely valuable and can be life saving.

The industrial environments impose harsh conditions that typical PEDsare not designed to accommodate. For example, damage can be done to thePED through rough handling and dropping. Further, industrial chemicals,grease, water, dirt, and grime may damage or destroy a functioning PEDand inhibit the use of the PEDs valuable data.

It is common to hold the PEDs inside a protective case for transport.However, PEDs are usually removed for use since most cases used fortransport are not interactive. Interactive cases are also useful fornon-industrial applications to provide protection for PEDs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of theprior art by providing a watertight, crush-resistant, and impactresistant protective enclosure that protects devices that have aninteractive flat-panel control as well as computer laptop devices. Thepresent invention may therefore comprise a protective enclosure for acomputer laptop or tablet PC having an interactive flat-panel control.The enclosure comprises a foam type shock-absorbing hook and loopcushioned lining inside the protective enclosure. Movable corner bumpersare disposed to attach to the hook and loop type cushioned lining at anypoint in the enclosure to accommodate devices of various sizes andsnuggly fit at the corners of an electronic device to secure theelectronic device inside the protective enclosure. The corner bumpersare disposed to secure the electronic devices inside the enclosure in asuspended shock absorbing manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown inthe closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown inthe open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown inan exploded state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shownfrom the rear.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention, showing asection line.

FIG. 6 is a section view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a section shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment comprising a singlepiece encapsulating cover.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment comprising anon-encapsulating snap over cover.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment that comprises a beltclip.

FIG. 11 is a second perspective view of an embodiment that comprises abelt clip.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention of a protective cover for a PED or other device.

FIG. 13A is a perspective top view of another embodiment of a protectiveenclosure for a tablet PC.

FIG. 13B is a view of the protective enclosure lid of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14 is a perspective top view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A with anopen lid.

FIG. 15 is a perspective bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the base of the embodiment of FIG. 13A

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a protective enclosurefor an interactive flat-panel controlled device.

FIG. 18 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a protectiveenclosure for an interactive flat-panel controlled device.

FIG. 19 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a protectiveenclosure with an open lid for a laptop computer device.

FIG. 20 is an exploded view of a protective enclosure with an open lidfor a laptop computer device positioned inside the enclosure.

FIG. 21 is a perspective top view of a protective enclosure with aclosed lid for a laptop computer device.

FIG. 22 is a perspective bottom view of the protective enclosure FIG.21.

FIG. 23 is a perspective front view of the embodiment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a perspective end view of the embodiment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is a perspective back view of the embodiment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the USB hub.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the USB hub mounted inside theenclosure of FIG. 21.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the USB hub mounted inside theenclosure of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.Embodiment 100 comprises a rigidly molded front case 102 and rear case104. An overmolded grommet 106 forms a receptacle for stylus 108 andalso aids in sealing membrane 110. A flexible hand strap 112 attaches tothe rear case 104. A hinge 114 joins front case 102 and rear case 104. Aring 124 for a lanyard is shown as an integral feature of rear case 104.

Embodiment 100 is designed to hold a conventional personal digitalassistant (PED) in a protective case. A PED, such as a Palm Pilot,Handspring Visor, Compaq Ipaq, Hewlett Packard Jornada, or similarproducts, use a touch screen for display and data entry. The touchscreen display comprises either a color or black and white liquidcrystal display with a touch sensitive device mounted on top of thedisplay. The display is used for displaying graphics, text, and otherelements to the user. The touch screen is used with a stylus 108 toselect elements from the screen, to draw figures, and to enter text witha character recognition program in the PED. The stylus 108 generallyresembles a conventional writing implement. However, the tip of thewriting implement is a rounded plastic tip. In place of a stylus 108,the user may use the tip of a finger or fingernail, or a conventionalpen or pencil. When a conventional writing implement is used, damage tothe touch screen element may occur, such as scratches.

For the purposes of this specification, the term PED shall include anyelectronic device that has a touch screen interface. This may includeinstruments such as voltmeters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and anyother hand held, bench top, or rack mounted instrument that has a touchscreen interface. Hand held devices, such as cell phones, satellitephones, telemetric devices, and other hand held devices are also to beclassified as PEDs for the purposes of this specification. The term PEDshall also include any computer terminal display that has a touch screeninterface. These may comprise kiosks, outdoor terminal interfaces,industrial computer interfaces, commercial computer interfaces and othercomputer displays. Additionally, the term PED may comprise barcodescanners, hand held GPS receivers, and other handheld electronicdevices. The foregoing description of the term PED has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, andother modifications and variations may be possible in light of theteachings of this specification.

In addition, the PEDs typically have a handful of additional buttons aspart of the user interface. These buttons are generally on the front ofthe device, near the touch screen element. The additional buttons may beused as shortcut buttons to instantly call up a certain program on thePED, may comprise a method of scrolling, may be used to select itemsfrom a list, or may have any function that the designer of the PEDsoftware may assign to the button or set of buttons. The button size,layout, and function may vary for each manufacturer and model of PED.

Further, PEDs typically have at least one method of connecting toanother computer. This may be through a direct electrical connection,such as through a wire cable or fiber optic, or through another mediumsuch as infrared communication or through a radio communication.

Additionally, the PEDs typically have an electrical source. Theelectrical source may be a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery orsolar cells. The electrical source may be a remote source of electricitythat is transmitted to the PED through a wire cable or through othermethods of electrical transmission.

Further, PEDs may have indicator lights, such as status lights forpower, communication, battery status, or other functions. The lights maybe located on any of the sides of the PED and may be viewable on one ormore sides.

Front case 102 and rear case 104 form a protective cover for the PED.The protective cover may be designed for rugged industrial use,recreational use, commercial use, or many other uses. An industrial usemay require the protective cover to be watertight, chemically resistant,protect the unit when dropped, and be crush proof. A typical applicationmay be for fire fighters to use a PED for a display of maps fordirections to an emergency scene or for a building plan at the scene ofa fire. Another example may be a maintenance mechanic in a chemicalplant using a PED to record maintenance records in the plant thatprocesses. A recreational use may require the cover to be watertight,afford some protection against dropping and being crushed, float inwater, and be dust resistant. A recreational use may be to take the PEDduring kayaking, diving, or other water sport activity. Further, thecase may be used when the PED is taken camping, hiking, or other outdooractivity. A commercial use may additionally require the protective coverto be elegant, but may also require the cover to be replaceable so thatscratches and other signs of wear and tear can be easily and cheaplyreplaced.

The protective cover for the PED may take on many embodiments. Theembodiment 100 comprises a front case 102 and rear case 104 that arejoined by a hinge 114 and a clasp mechanism that is on the side of thecases opposite the hinge 114. Other embodiments may have a small doorinto which the PED slides, or the protective cover may not completelyenclose the PED and only cover the face where the user interface exists,leaving one or more sides of the PED exposed. Those skilled in the artmay use other designs of protective covers without deviating from thescope and intent of the present invention.

The protective cover may be constructed of rigid plastic, metal,flexible rubber, or any other type of material that could be adapted toafford the protection of the PED desired for the application. Forexample, a metal cover may be used in an application where an elegantstyle is necessary but watertightness is not. A flexible rubber covermay be selected for an application in a wet environment. A rigid plasticcover may be selected for an application where dropping the PED is aconcern. Those skilled in the art may use other types of materials andconstructions without deviating from the spirit of the presentinvention.

The PED may be mounted in the protective cover using many differentmounting techniques. For example, the PED may be mounted using open orclosed cell foam inserts in the protective cover. In another embodiment,the PED may be mounted by attaching the PED to the cover with afastener. In another embodiment, the PED may be mounted by snapping intothe protective waterproof cover. In another embodiment, the PED may beheld in place by resting in molded features of two halves of aprotective case that clamps onto the PED. Those skilled in the art mayuse other types of locating and holding mechanisms without deviatingfrom the spirit of the present invention.

The overmolded grommet 106 of the present embodiment is constructed byinjection molding a thermoplastic polymerized rubber (TPR) over thefront case 102. The grommet 106 has molded features 116 and 118 adaptedto retain the stylus 108. Features 116 and 118 capture the stylus 108during transportation, but allow the user to remove the stylus 108 tooperate the PED. In other embodiments of the present invention, thestylus 108 may be constrained to the PED with a tether or lanyard, orthe constraining features may be incorporated into other components thatmake up the protective cover. Further, the stylus 108 may not be presentin the embodiment, rather, the PED be adapted to be used with the user'sfingernail or with another implement similar to the stylus 108.

The membrane 110 of the present embodiment is constructed bythermoforming a sheet of thin plastic. The plastic is selected to bethin enough that the deformation of a stylus conducts the touch to thetouch screen, but thick enough to have enough rigidity that the stylusdoes not catch and rip the membrane. Additionally, the membrane 110should have enough thickness to endure scratches and other wear and tearwithout breaking and sacrificing the protective function.Polyvinylchloride material at 0.010 in to 0.015 in thickness givesacceptable results. Alternatively, membrane 110 may be constructed byinjection molding or other methods. Alternative materials may be used bythose skilled in the art to achieve the same results while maintainingwithin the spirit and intent of the present invention.

The membrane 110 in the present embodiment may be translucent or atleast partially transparent, so that the images displayed on the PED maybe visible through the membrane 110. The membrane 110 may be tinted orcolorized in some applications. For example, a protective cover designedas a decorative cover may incorporate a colorized membrane 110. Further,the membrane may be selectively colorized and the opaqueness may vary.For example, the protective membrane may be printed or painted in theareas not used for the touch screen. A printing process may incorporatea logo, graphics, or labeling for individual buttons for the PED. Theprinting process may further incorporate features, such as text orgraphics, that are used by the software on the PED for a purpose such assimplifying data input or for designating an area on the touch screenfor a specific function, such as a help function. The printing orpainting processes used on the membrane 110 may be purely decorative andmay be for aesthetic purposes only. The printing process may alsocomprise logos or graphics for the brand identity of the PED cover.Other processes, such as colorizing the raw material for the membrane110 or adding other components to the raw material, such as metal flakesor other additives, may be used to change the optical features of themembrane 110.

The optical performance of the membrane 110 may be changed or enhancedby changing the texture of the area of the touch screen. For example,the membrane may be frosted on the outside to hide scratches or may beimprinted with a lens or other features that change the opticalcharacteristics of the membrane 110. The membrane 110 may have opticalfeatures that are used in conjunction with the software of the PED. Forexample, all or a portion of the membrane may comprise a lens thatmagnifies an image to a user. When the user touches the image on themembrane 110 and the touch is transferred to the touch screen, thesoftware in the PED may have to compensate for the positionaldifferences between the image and actual area that was touched by theuser. In another example, if a specific portion of the membrane 110 hada specific optical characteristic, the software of the PED may beconstructed to display a specific graphic for the area for an intendedeffect.

The membrane 110 in the present embodiment has a recessed portion 120and a raised portion 122. The recessed portion 120 may be adapted topress flat against the touch screen area of a specific PED. The raisedportion 122 may be adapted to fit over an area of the specific PED whereseveral buttons are located.

The raised portion 122 allows the user to operate the buttons on thePED. The raised portion 122 is adapted such that the buttons on the PEDare easily operated through the protective membrane 110. The raisedportion 122 may have special features to aid the user in pressing thebuttons. For example, the raised portion 122 may comprise a dimpled areafor the user's finger located directly over the button. Further, afeature to aid the user may comprise a section of membrane 110 definedby a thinner area around the section, enabling the user to more easilydeflect the section of membrane over the button. The area of thinnermaterial may comprise a large section or a thin line. Further, tactileelements, such as small ribs or bumps may be incorporated into themembrane 110 in the area of the buttons so that the user has a tactilesensation that the user's finger is over the button. The tactile elementmay be particularly effective if the button was a power switch, forexample, that turned on the PED.

The configuration of the membrane 110 may be unique to each style ormodel of PED, however, the front case 102 and rear case 104 may be usedover a variety of PEDs. In the present embodiment, the changeover fromone PED variety to another is accomplished by replacing the membrane 110without having to change any other parts. The present embodiment maytherefore be mass-produced with the only customizable area being themembrane 110 to allow different models of PEDs to be used with a certainfront case 102 and rear case 104.

The hand strap 112 in the present embodiment allows the user to hold theembodiment 100 securely in his hand while using the PED. The hand strap112 may be constructed of a flexible material, such as rubber or clothwebbing, and may have an adjustment, such as a buckle, hook and loopfastener, or other method of adjustment. In other embodiments, a handstrap may be a rigid plastic handle, a folding handle, or any othermethod of assisting the user in holding the embodiment. Further, theembodiment may be adapted to be fix-mounted to another object, like apiece of machinery, a wall, or any other object. A fix-mountedembodiment may have other accoutrements adapted for a fixed mountapplications, such as receptacles for a stylus adapted to a fix-mount,specialized electrical connections, features for locking the PED insidethe case to prevent theft, or designs specifically adapted to shed waterwhen rained upon.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment 100 shown in anopen position. The front case 102 and rear case 104 are shown open aboutthe hinge 114. Membrane 110 is shown installed into gasket 106, and therecessed portion 120 and raised portion 122 of membrane 110 isillustrated looking from the inside of the case. The clasp mechanismsare not shown in this illustration. Hand strap 112 is shown attached torear case 104.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment 100 shown in anexploded state. The hand strap 116 attaches to the rear cover 104. Theovermolded grommet 106 holds the stylus 108 and is attached to frontcover 102. The membrane 110 attaches to the grommet 106 and is held inplace with an o-ring 302.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment 100 shown fromthe rear. The hand strap 116 is shown, along with rear cover 104 andfront cover 102. The stylus 108 is shown inserted into the overmoldedgrommet 106.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the embodiment 100. The front cover102, membrane 110, stylus 108, and hinge 114 are all visible.

FIG. 6 illustrates a section view of the embodiment 100 taken throughthe section line shown in FIG. 5. The front cover 102, rear cover 104,overmolded gasket 106, stylus 108, membrane 110, hand strap 112, ando-ring 302 are all shown hatched in this view.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detail view of the embodiment 100 shown in FIG. 6.Front case 102 and rear case 104 are joined at hinge 114. Overmoldedgasket 106 traps membrane 110 and o-ring 302 locks membrane 110 inplace. Overmolded gasket 106 may be formed by molding thermoplasticpolymerized rubber over the front cover 102.

The replacement of the membrane 110 is accomplished by removing o-ring302, pushing the membrane 110 from the overmolded gasket 106, snapping anew membrane 110 into place, and replacing the o-ring 302. The ease ofreplacement of the present embodiment allows a user to quickly replace adamaged membrane 110, allows a user to upgrade their case to a newermodel PED, and may allow a user to select from various membranes 110 forthe particular application. One embodiment may have a single casepackaged with a small variety of several types of membranes 110. In suchan embodiment, the user may purchase the packaged set, select themembrane 110 that suits the user's particular PED, and install theselected membrane 110 with ease.

The protective cover of the present invention may have directconnections through the cover for connecting through the case. Such aconnection is known as pass through. The connections may be for power,communication, heat dissipation, optical transmissions, mechanicalmotion, or other reasons.

Electrical connections may require an insulated metal conductor from thePED through the wall of the protective cover so that a flexible cablemay be attached or so that the PED in its protective case may be placedin a cradle for making the electrical connection. Inside the protectivecover, the electrical connections may be made with a flexible cable thatis plugged into the PEDs electrical connector before the PED is securedin the protective cover. Alternatively, a fixed connector may beattached to the protective cover and the PED is slid into contact withthe fixed connector. Another embodiment may be for a compliant, yetfixed mounted electrical connector to be rigidly mounted inside theprotective cover. A compliant, yet fixed mounted electrical connectormay comprise spring loaded probes, commonly referred to as pogo pins.Another embodiment may comprise spring fingers that engage the PEDselectrical contacts. On the outside of the protective cover, theelectrical contacts may be terminated into a fix-mounted connectoradapted to receive a cable from a computer. The connector may bedesigned to receive a cable that plugs directly into the PED or it maybe adapted to receive a different connector. Further, the electricalconnection to the PED may be permanently attached to a cable thatextends out of the protective cover. Another embodiment may be to have asmall trap door that opens in the protective cover to allow access tothe electrical connections. While the trap door exposes the PED to theelements the cover is designed to protect against, a direct electricalconnection may eliminate a potential cabling connection problem.Connections for fiber optics can be handled in similar fashions as theelectrical connections. An embodiment with a power connection maycomprise the use of inductive coils located in proximity to each otherbut on opposite sides of the protective cover. Those skilled in the artof may devise other embodiments for connecting through the protectivecover without deviating from the scope and intent of the presentinvention.

Through the air communications, such as infrared and over the air radiofrequency (RF) communications may pass through the protective cover. Thematerial for the front case 102 and rear case 104 may be selected to beclear plastic, such as polycarbonate. The infrared transceiver of thePED can communicate through a clear plastic case to another infraredtransceiver outside of the case. Further, the appropriate selection ofmaterial for the protective case can thereby enable various RFtransmissions, such as cellular phone communications or other wirelesscommunication protocols.

An infrared transmission through the protective case of an embodiment ofthe invention may be accomplished by making the entire protective caseout of a clear material. Alternatively, a selected area of theprotective case may be clear while the remainder of the case is opaque.The selected area may be constructed of a separate piece that allows theinfrared light through the protective case. Alternatively, the selectedarea may be constructed of a portion of the protective case that wasmanufactured in a way so as not to be opaque, such as selectively notpainting or plating the area of a plastic protective case. Further, theclear material through which the transmission occurs may be tinted inthe visual spectrum but be translucent or at least partially transparentin the infrared spectrum of the device.

A protective case may allow RF transmissions to and from the PED whilethe case is closed. Such a case may be constructed of a non-metallicmaterial. In some embodiments, the material of the protective case maybe tuned to allow certain frequencies to pass through the protectivecover and tune out other frequencies, through loading the material usedin the protective cover with conductive media or through varying thethickness of the case and other geometries of the case in the area ofthe PED transmission and reception antenna.

In a different embodiment, it may be desirable to shield the PED fromoutside RF interference. In this case, the protective cover may be ametallic construction or may be plastic with a metallized coating.Further, membrane 110 may have a light metallized coating applied sothat membrane 110 is slightly or fully conductive. An application forsuch an embodiment may be the use of the PED in an area of high RF noisethat may interfere with the operation of the PED, or conversely, the usemay be in an area that is highly susceptible to external RF interferenceand the PEDs RF noise may be interfering with some other device.

The PED may be equipped with a camera or other video capture device. Aprotective cover may have provisions to allow a clear image to be seenby the video capture device through the case. Such provisions mayinclude an optically clear insert assembled into the protective case.Other embodiments may have a sliding trap door whereby the user of thePED may slide the door open for the camera to see. Additionally, otherembodiments may comprise a molded case that has an optically clear lensintegrally molded. Such an embodiment may be additionally painted,plated, or overmolded, with the lens area masked so that the painting,plating, or overmolding does not interfere with the optics of the lens.

An optically clear area may be used for a barcode scanner portion of aPED to scan through the case to the outside world. In such anembodiment, a barcode scanner may be protected from the elements whilestill maintaining full functionality in the outside world.

The PED may have indicator lights that indicate various items, such aspower, battery condition, communication, and other status items. Theindicator lights may be in positions on the PED that are not readilyviewable through the protective membrane 110. The indicator lights maybe made visible through the protective case by using light pipes thattransmit the light from the PEDs status light to the outside of theprotective case. Such light pipes may be constructed of clear or tintedplastic, or other translucent or semi-transparent material. The lightpipes may be formed as an integral feature to the protective case or maybe separate parts that are formed separately and assembled to theprotective case.

The PED may have a speaker or other element that makes noise and/or thePED may have a microphone for receiving audio signals. The speaker maybe an audio quality device for reproducing sound or it may be a simplebuzzer for indicating various functions of the PED. The microphone maybe an audio quality device or it may be a low performance device.Special provisions may be made for transmitting sound through aprotective case. Such provisions may range from a single hole in thecase to a tuned cavity that would allow sound to pass through withminimum distortion. Other embodiments may include a transmissivemembrane adapted to allow sound to pass through the protective case witha minimum of distortion. Such membranes may be located near the speakerand microphone elements of the PED. Such membranes may be watertightmembranes known by the brand name Gore-Tex.

The PED may generate heat during its use and provisions for dissipatingthe heat may be built into the protective cover. A heat-dissipatingdevice may be integral to the protective cover or may comprise one ormore separate parts. For example, a metallic protective cover may beadapted to touch the PED in the area of heat generation and conduct theheat outwardly to the rest of the protective cover. The protective covermay thereby dissipate the heat to the external air without overheatingthe PED. In another example, a separate heat sink may be applied to thePED and allowed to protrude through a hole in the protective cover. Theheat sink may thereby transfer the heat from the PED to the ambientenvironment without overheating the PED. The heat sinks may be attachedto the PED with a thermally conductive adhesive. Other embodiments mayinclude vent holes for heat dissipation and air circulation.

The PED may have a button that may not be located underneath themembrane 110. An embodiment may include a flexible, pliable, orotherwise movable mechanism that may transmit mechanical motion from theoutside of the case to a button on the PED. Such an embodiment may havea molded dimpled surface that is pliable and allows a user to activate abutton on a PED by pressing the dimpled surface. Another embodiment mayhave a rigid plunger that is mounted on a spring and adapted to transmitthe mechanical movement from the exterior of the case to a button on thePED. The buttons on the PED may be located on any side of the PED and anembodiment of a case may have pliable areas adapted to allow the user topress buttons that are not on the front face of the PED.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of embodiment 800 of the present inventionwherein the PED 802 is encapsulated by a protective cover 804. Theinstallation of the PED 802 is to slide PED 802 into the opening 808,then fold door 806 closed and secure with flap 810, which is hingedalong line 812. Areas 814 and 816 may comprise a hook and loop fastenersystem or other fastening device. Recessed area 818 is adapted to fitagainst touch screen 820 of PED 802.

Embodiment 800 may be comprised of a single molded plastic part that maybe very low cost. As shown, embodiment 800 may not be completelyweathertight, since the door 806 does not completely seal the enclosure.However, such an embodiment may afford considerable protection to thePED 802 in the areas of dust protection, scratch protection, and beingoccasionally rained upon. Further, the low cost of the embodiment 800may be changed often during the life of the PED 802.

Embodiment 800 may have custom colors, logos, or designs that allow auser to personalize their PED with a specific cover that is suited totheir mood or tastes. The colors, logos, and designs may be integrallymolded into the cover 804. Alternatively, different colors, logos, anddesigns may be applied in a secondary operation such as printing,painting, plating, or other application process.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of embodiment 900 of the present inventionwherein a decorative cover 902 is snapped over a PED 904. The ends 906and 908 snap over the PED ends 910 and 912 as an attachment mechanismfor cover 902 to PED 904. Recessed area 914 is adapted to fit againsttouch screen 916.

Embodiment 900 may be a cover for decorative purposes only, or may befor protective purposes as well. Cover 902 may be emblazoned with logos,designs, or other visual embellishments to personalize the PED 904. Thecolors, logos, and designs may be integrally molded into the cover 904.Alternatively, different colors, logos, and designs may be applied in asecondary operation such as printing, painting, plating, or otherapplication process.

Embodiment 900 may be attached by snapping the cover 902 onto PED 904.Special provisions in the case of PED 904 may be provided for a snappingfeature of cover 902, or cover 902 may be adapted to hold onto PED 904without the use of special features in PED 904.

The features used to secure cover 902 to PED 904 may be any mechanismwhereby the cover 902 can be secured. This includes snapping, clamping,fastening, sliding, gluing, adhering, or any other method for securingtwo components together.

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a receiver1002 for holding the protective case 100. The protective case 100 isheld into receiver 1002 in such a manner that the touch screen displayis facing into the receiver 1002, to afford the touch screen displaywith protection.

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of a receiver1002 shown from the opposite side as FIG. 10. Receiver 1002 is comprisedof a back 1102, a belt clip mechanism 1104, and four clip areas 1106,1108, 1110, and 1112. The protective case 100 is placed into thereceiver 1002 by inserting one end into the receiver, then rotating theprotective case 100 into position such that the snapping action of clipareas 1106, 1108, 1110, and 1112 are engaged to hold protective case 100securely.

Receiver 1002 may be adapted to clip onto a person's belt or may beadapted to be mounted on a wall or other location where the PED may bestored. The orientation of the protective case 100 is such that thetouch screen element of the PED is protected during normal transport andstorage, since the touch screen interface is facing the back 1102 of thereceiver 1002.

Receiver 1002 may be made of compliant plastic that allows the clipareas 1106, 1108, 1110, and 1112 to move out of the way and spring backduring insertion or removal of the protective case 100. In the presentembodiment, receiver 1002 may be constructed of a single part. Inalternative embodiments, receiver 1002 may be constructed of multipleparts and of multiple materials, such as a metal back with spring loadedclips. In other embodiments, special features may be included in theprotective case 100 where the receiver 1002 may engage a special featurefor securing the protective case 100.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment 1200 of the present invention of aprotective cover for a PED or other device. A rigid front cover 1202 anda rigid rear cover 1204 are held together with a series of latches 1206,1208, 1210, and 1212. The protective membrane 1214 protects thetouchscreen of the enclosed PED. A folding rigid cover 1216 operates asa rigid shield to prevent the membrane 1214 from any damage. The stylusholder 1220 is formed from an overmolded flexible material in which themembrane 1214 is mounted.

Embodiment 1200 illustrates yet another embodiment of the presentinvention wherein a rigid protective cover may be used to contain andprotect an electronic device, but provide full usable access to atouchscreen. The protective membrane 1214 and case may be watertight insome embodiments.

FIG. 13A illustrates an embodiment of a protective enclosure 1300 thatencloses and protects a tablet PC 1302. PEDs that have touch screens, asdescribed above, have an interactive flat-panel control, i.e., the touchscreen display. Tablet PCs are portable electronic computing devicesthat have a high-resolution interactive flat-panel control that acceptssmooth stylus strokes such as handwriting. The embodiment of FIG. 13A iscrush-resistant, impact-resistant, watertight, and simultaneously allowsinteractive stylus strokes and other sensitive user inputs to beaccurately and easily transmitted through a protective screen membrane1306 to the interactive flat-panel control of tablet PC 1302.

A watertight and shock-absorbing foam cushion 1310 may be fixed andsealed to the underside of the lid 1304 around the interactiveflat-panel control opening. The protective screen membrane 1306 is fixedand sealed to the shock-absorbing foam cushion 1310. The shock-absorbingfoam cushion 1310 maintains the water tightness of the enclosure. Thecushion 1310 also cushions the flat-panel control of the tablet PC 1302and protects it against breakage if the enclosure and tablet PC aredropped or otherwise subjected to shock. In accordance with theembodiment of FIG. 13A, the shock-absorbing foam cushion 1310 has athickness of approximately 0.25 inches and extends approximately 0.060inches below the underside of the interactive flat-panel control openingof the lid 1304. One source of suitable watertight shock-absorbing foamis E.A.R. Specialty Composites of 7911 Zionville Rd., Indianapolis, Ind.46268. Cushion 1310 allows the protective screen membrane to move adistance of up to 0.125 inches during an impact to the enclosure or whenpressure is applied to protect membrane 1306 while pushing the tablet PCcontrol buttons 1308 or writing on the interactive flat-panel controlwith a stylus through the membrane. The shock-absorbing foam cushion1310 also pushes the protective screen membrane 1306 flatly against thesurface of the interactive flat-panel control of the tablet PC 1302 sothat sensitive user stylus strokes and other inputs are accuratelytransmitted. The pressure of the cushion 1310 on the protective screenmembrane 1306 which holds the protective screen membrane 1306 flatlyagainst the interactive flat-panel control of the tablet PC 1302 alsokeeps display images, viewed through the protective screen membrane,clear and distortion-free. In embodiments of the protective enclosure toprotect a touch-screen device, the protective membrane may be adjacentto the touch screen but does not exert mechanical pressure on the touchscreen so that mechanical inputs such as style strokes are sensed onlywhen intended. In embodiments of the protective enclosure to protect atablet PC that has an RF stylus or to protect a handheld device that acapacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control, the protectivemembrane may be pressed flat against the interactive flat-panel controlwhich allows undistorted viewing but does not adversely affect thecontrol since the interactive control uses capacitance or radiofrequencies for interactive input instead of mechanical pressure.

The protective screen membrane 1306 in the embodiment of FIG. 13A is atleast partially transparent and has a thickness of approximately 0.010inches. The thickness of the protective screen membrane 1306 should betypically in the range of 0.001 inches to 0.020 inches so that stylusstrokes on the upper surface of protective screen membrane 1306 aretransmitted accurately to the interactive flat-panel control of thetablet PC 1302. Likewise, protective screen membrane 1306 may beflexible or semi-rigid and may be made of polyvinylchloride or othersuitable transparent thermoplastic, such as, for example,polyvinylchloride, thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplasticpolypropylene, thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene,thermoplastic polyurethane, which has a hardness and texture thatpermits the stylus to smoothly glide across the surface withoutskipping, grabbing, or catching against the surface. Some tablet PCsutilize a stylus which transmits strokes to the PC by way of radiofrequency transmission. Protective screen membrane 1306 may be made of arigid, clear, engineered thermoplastic such as, for example,thermoplastic polycarbonate or other thermoplastics as described above,for enclosing a tablet PC. A protective screen membrane 1306 that isrigid may include watertight access ports that allow operation ofmechanical buttons or switches of the tablet PC 1302, such as, forexample, control buttons 1308. The watertight access ports may includeholes that have a moveable watertight plug, or any type of watertightbutton or lever. Protective screen membrane 1306 may include ananti-glare coating or can be made with an anti-glare texture so thatdisplay images are clearly viewable without distortion through theprotective screen membrane 1306.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13A, the lid 1304 of the protective enclosure1300 may have an external stylus holder 1324 that securely holds astylus used with the tablet PC 1302.

As described above with respect to FIG. 1, the lid 1304 and the base1312 may have air-permeable watertight vents 1318, 1326 that permit thecooling fans of the tablet PC 1302 to force air exchange to dissipateheat by convection so that the tablet PC 1302 does not overheat.Watertight vents 1318,1326 may comprise holes in the lid 1304 and base1312 that are made watertight by covering and sealing the holes with anair-permeable watertight membrane such as, for example, a fabricatedexpanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. One source thatfabricated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes isavailable from is W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. of 555 Papermill Road,Newark, Del. 19711.

The embodiment of FIG. 13A may also comprise a pod door 1322 that allowsaccess to table PC interfaces such as, for example, PCMCIA or Smart Cardslots. The pod door 1322 is attached to the lid 1304 so that it may beremoved or opened. In the embodiment of FIG. 13A, the pod door 1322 ishingedly connected to a portion of the base 1312 at a location of thebase 1312 that has an opening that allows access to the tablet PCinterfaces. The opening can be covered by a watertight seal 1320, suchas, for example, an O-ring that is part of pod door 1322.

The underside of the lid 1304 also has a watertight seal, such as anO-ring, so that when compound latches 1328, 1330, 1332 and 1334 areclosed, the O-ring or seal of the lid 1304 forms a watertight sealagainst the base 1312. The protective enclosure 1300 protects the tabletPC 1302 from water and dust intrusion sufficient to comply with IngressProtection (IP) rating of IP 67, i.e., the protective enclosure totallyprotects the enclosed tablet PC from dust and protects the enclosedtablet PC from the effects of immersion in one meter of water for 30minutes.

The protective enclosure of the embodiment of FIG. 13A may furthercomprise protective overmolding 1316 attached to the lid 1304. A similarovermolding may be attached to the base 1312. The protective overmolding1316 may be made of material that is easily gripped in slipperyconditions and provides additional shock absorption such as, forexample, rubber or silicone. The protective overmolding 1316 extendsabove the surface of the lid in pre-determined areas to provideprotrusions that are easily gripped even in slippery conditions. Theprotective enclosure of the embodiment of FIG. 13 may further comprisewatertight plugs such as access port plug 1314 that fit snugly intoopenings in the base 1312 that provide access to various interfaces,connecters and slots of the tablet PC 1302.

FIG. 13B illustrates a shell lid 1304 of the embodiment of FIG. 13A.Shell lid 1304 and base 1312 may be made of impact/crush resistantmaterial such as glass-fiber reinforced engineered thermoplastic, suchas for example, glass reinforced polycarbonate. Alternatively, the shelllid 1304 and shell base may be made of thermoplastic polycarbonate,thermoplastic polypropylene, thermoplasticacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, and thermoplastic compositionscontaining one or more thereof, or other engineered thermoplastics thatprovide a shock-resistant and impact resistant shell may be used. Theengineered thermoplastics may be reinforced with glass fibers, carbonfibers, metal fibers, polyamide fibers and mixtures thereof. Shell lid1304 may be further reinforced with stiffeners 1334, 1336, 1338, 1340that are integrally embedded into the shell lid around the perimeter ofan opening in the shell that is directly over the interactive flat-panelcontrol portion of the tablet PC. The stiffeners made be made of steelor other hard material so that the stiffeners provide additionalstrength and prevent flexing of the lid 1304 which enhances thewatertightness and the impact/crush resistance.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of the embodiment of FIG. 13A with the lid1404 detached from the base 1412. To protect the tablet PC 1402 usingthe protective enclosure 1400, the tablet PC 1402 is disposed to fitsnugly into the base 1412. The lid is oriented so that hooks 1436, 1438area aligned with pin 1440 that is connected to a portion of the base1412 and the lid is closed so that hooks 1436, 1438 are retained by pin1440. Compound latches 1428, 1430, 1432, 1434 are then snapped onto thelid so that the lid is compressed tightly against the base providing awatertight seal.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 13. The base 1516 ofprotective enclosure 1500 includes watertight vents such as watertightvent 1506 for air exchange to permit heat and sound dissipation from theenclosed tablet PC while at the same time maintaining watertightness.

Pod release knobs 1512, 1518 are attached to the base 1516 so that theknobs can be rotated clockwise to securely wedge against an edge of poddoor 1522 to close the pod door 1522 tightly against a rim around an thepod opening in base 1516 to create a watertight seal. Knobs 1512, 1518can be rotated counter-clockwise to release pod door 1522 to access theinterfaces of the tablet PC covered by pod door 1522.

To provide additional protection against mechanical shock, heavy-dutycorner bumpers such as bumper 1504 may be securely attached to thecorners of base 1516.

As shown in FIG. 15, an adjustable heavy-duty handle may be attached tothe base 1516 of the protective enclosure 1500 to allow easy andreliable transportation of the protective enclosure 1500 that encloses atablet PC. In some circumstances, it is convenient to hold theprotective enclosure using hand strap 1514 that is made of strongslightly stretchable fabric. Hand strap 1514 attaches to four points ofthe base 1516 to that a user's hand or wrist can be inserted along theeither the longer or shorted length on the protective enclosure 1500 andenclosure tablet PC. Hand strap 1514 may be made of neoprene or otherstrong stretchable material to securely hold the protective enclosure tothe user's arm even in slippery conditions. The protective enclosure mayfurther include a neck strap to provide a comfortable solution for usingthe tablet PC while standing.

FIG. 16 illustrates a top view of the protective enclosure base 1600.Watertight vents such as watertight vent 1616 allow air exchange forheat dissipation and sound transmission from an enclosed tablet PC. Sealrim 1614 is an integrally formed part of the protective enclosure 1600which is compressed against an O-ring in the protective enclosure lid toprovide a watertight seal when compound latches 1628, 1630, 1632, 1634are closed onto the lid.

Internal bumpers 1602, 1604, 1608, 1610 attach to the interior cornersof protective enclosure base 1600 to provide cushion and mechanicalshock protection to an enclosed tablet PC. The L-shape and non-solidinterior of internal bumpers 1602, 1604, 1608, 1610 allows the bumpersto deflect and absorb the shock if the enclosed tablet PC is dropped orotherwise subjected to mechanical shock. The protective enclosureprovides shock absorption sufficient to meet MIL-STD 810F, Method 516.5,Procedure 4 which is a Transit Drop Test. In the Transit Drop Test, theprotective enclosure encloses a tablet PC or a mass equivalent to atablet PC. The protective enclosure is sequentially dropped onto eachface, edge and corner for a total of 26 drops over plywood from a heightof 48 inches. The protective enclosure is visually inspected after eachdrop and a functional check for leakage is performed after all drops arecompleted.

Some tablet PCs have a docking connector disposed on the underside ofthe tablet PC so that the tablet PC can connect to power and signals.For example, emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, orpatrol cars, may have a docking station installed near the driver's seatonto which the driver may dock a tablet PC. The embodiment of protectiveenclosure base 1600, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may comprise a dockingconnector channel 1624 that is recessed with respect to the uppersurface of the base that allows a docking connector to run from adocking connector that is disposed in the center underside of the tabletPC to access port 1626. Alternatively, a docking pass-through connector1620 may be made an integral and watertight part of the protectiveenclosure base 1600 so that the tablet PC docking connector attaches tothe docking pass-through connector 1620 which, in turn, connects to thedocking station in substantially the same manner as an unenclosed tabletPC.

FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment of protective enclosure 1700 fora handheld electronic device 1702 that has an interactive flat-panelcontrol such as, but limited to, a capacitance-sensing interactive flatpanel control, a touch screen or other interactive control. Handheldelectronic devices that have an interactive flat-panel control benefitfrom being enclosed in a rugged protective enclosure that iscrush-resistant, watertight and shock-resistant and that simultaneouslyallows the user to interact with a sensitive interactive flat-panelcontrol. Handheld electronic devices that have interactive flat-panelcontrol may include music players, MP3 players, audio player/recorders,video players, computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), GPSreceivers, cell phones, satellite phones, pagers, monitors, etc. Forexample, Apple Computer Ipod is a popular handheld interactive devicethat plays MP3 or otherwise digitally-encoded music/audio. The AppleIpod has an interactive flat-panel control in which a portion of thefront panel is a flat-panel display and portion of the front panel is aninteractive flat-panel control, called a touch wheel in some versions ofthe Ipod and click wheel in other versions of the Ipod, that hascapacitive touch/proximity sensors. One function of such an interactiveflat-panel control, i.e. touch wheel, is that the control can emulate arotary control knob by sensing circular motion of a user's finger usingcapacitive sensors. The click wheel has the same function with theadditional feature of sensing proximity of a user's finger and emulatingbutton presses by a user's finger at pre-determined areas.

In the embodiment of FIG. 17, the shell lid 1706 and the shell base 1704are made of polycarbonate or other engineered thermoplastics such aspolyethylene, polypropylene, etc. that are crush-resistant and impactresistant. Shell base 1704 has a watertight seal 1718, which may be anovermolded gasket, o-ring, liner or other seal that prevents water fromentering the protective enclosure 1700 when the handheld interactivedevice 1702 is enclosed inside the protective enclosure 1700. Shell base1704 and shell lid 1706 may include watertight vents, electricalconnectors, see-through areas or features as disclosed with respect toFIG. 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 17, shell lid 1706 includes apertures overpredetermined portions of the handheld interactive device 1702, such asthe areas directly over the display screen 1714 and the interactiveflat-panel control 1712, or other designated areas, as desired. Aprotective screen membrane 1710, that is at least partially transparent,is permanently or removably fixed in a watertight manner to theunderside of shell lid 1706 in the aperture that is over the displayscreen 1714. The protective screen membrane 1710 may be recessed withrespect to the upper surface of the shell lid 1706 which providesprotective elevated rim that protects the display screen 1714 frombreakage. Protective screen membrane 1710 may be PVC, silicone,polyethylene or other material that is watertight and rugged. In thecase that display screen 1714 is a touch screen, the protective screenmembrane 1710 should be smooth enough and thin enough that stylusstrokes and other inputs are transmitted accurately to the touch screenas disclosed above with respect to FIG. 1, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13.Alternatively, it may be desirable not to have an aperture in shell lid1706 for a protective membrane 1710. In another embodiment, the shelllid 1706 can be made of a transparent material so that a transparentwindow can be foamed in the shell lid 1706 in place of the protectivescreen membrane 1710. The transparent window is aligned with the displayscreen 1714 so that the user can view the display screen 1714. In thiscase, a protective elevated rim that is aligned with the display screen1714 is not required in the shell lid 1706 to protect the display screen1714 from damage since there is no protective screen membrane 1710. Ifthe display screen 1714 is a touch screen, the material of the shell lid1706 that is aligned with the display screen 1714 to provide a windowcan be made thinner to allow the touch screen to properly operate.

As also shown with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 17, a protectivecontrol membrane 1708 is permanently or removably fixed in a watertightmanner to the underside of shell lid 1706 in an aperture that is alignedwith the interactive flat-panel control 1714 of the handheld device1702. The protective screen membrane 1710 is recessed with respect tothe upper surface of the shell lid 1706 which provides protectiveelevated rim that protects the display screen 1714 from breakage andprovides tactile feedback that guides a user's finger to the desiredarea, even in slippery conditions. Of course, the protective elevatedrim may simply comprise the portion of the shell lid 1706 that is formedas a result of making an aperture in the shell lid 1706 and overmoldinga protective touch-control membrane 1708 on an inside surface of theshell lid 1706. In other words, the thickness of the shell lid 1706creates a protective rim since the protective touch-control membrane1708 is overmolded or otherwise attached to the back side of the shelllid 1706. In that case, the rim is not elevated with respect to thesurface of the shell lid 1706, but rather, is elevated with respect tothe membrane to form a protective rim.

Interactive flat-panel control 1712 has capacitive sensors, which arepart of a proximity/touch detector circuit. When a grounded object, suchas a person's finger, which has free air capacitance of several hundredpicofarads, is brought close to the capacitive sensors, the totalcapacitance measured by the detector circuit increases because thecapacitance of the object with free air capacitance adds to thecapacitance of the sensors since the total capacitance of two capacitorsin parallel is additive. Multiple sensors may also be arranged so thatmovement of an object with free air capacitance can be detected, forexample, movement of a person's finger in a circular motion analogous toturning a mechanical control knob. Some examples of interactiveflat-panel controlled PED's include Ipod and Ipod Mini music and audioplayers from Apple Computer. In some PEDs, such as the Apple Ipod,capacitive sensors may be disposed below a front panel made from adielectric such as polycarbonate, which has a dielectric constant in therange of 2.2-3.8. In the embodiment of FIG. 17, the protective controlmembrane 1708 is made of thin polycarbonate that is slightly flexible orother engineered thermoplastics that provide the rugged watertightprotection and at the same time permit the capacitive sensors of theinteractive flat-panel control 1712 to function correctly. Likewise, aprotective control membrane 1708 with a dielectric constant that is toohigh may retain an electric charge long enough to reduce the responserate of the sensor to motion of a user's finger from one capacitivesensor zone of the interactive flat-panel control 1712 to another. Aprotective control membrane 1708 that is conductive or has a dielectricconstant that is too low may diminish the sensitivity of the capacitivesensor by combining in series the capacitance of the protective membraneand the dielectric front panel of the PED which results in a lowering ofthe overall capacitance.

Total capacitance between an object, such as a finger touching theprotective control membrane 1708, and interactive flat-panel control1712 is a function of the thickness and the dielectric constant of theprotective control membrane 1708. The capacitance between the object,such as a finger, and the capacitive sensors of the interactiveflat-panel control 1712 is proportional to the distance between theobject and the sensors. The sensitivity of the capacitive sensors to theobject may be diminished or completely eliminated if the protectivecontrol membrane 1708 is too thick. In the embodiment of FIG. 17, thethickness of the protective control membrane is approximately 0.020inches. The protective control membrane 1708 may be any thickness in therange of 0.003 inches to 0.020 inches that is adequate to provide arugged watertight membrane through which capacitance can be correctlysensed by the interactive flat-panel control 1712.

The upper surface of the protective control membrane 1708 has avelvet/matte texture with a texture depth of 0.0004 to 0.003 inches thatreduces the surface area of the membrane that is in frictional contactwith the user's finger and permits a user's finger to glide rapidly uponthe surface of the membrane without catching or sticking as a result ofthe reduced friction. The hardness of the polycarbonate material, orother hard engineered thermoplastic, also reduces the friction.

Headphones or other accessories may be electrically connected tohandheld device 1702 the through the protective enclosure 1700 bydisposing the wire of the headphone or accessory in an insertable gasket1716 which fits snugly into one end of the shell base 1704.

FIG. 18 illustrates another embodiment of protective enclosure 1800which is substantially the same as protective enclosure 1700 of FIG. 17.However, protective enclosure 1800 has an alternative electricalpass-through for accessories. In the embodiment of FIG. 18, shell base1804 includes an adapter cable 1816 that has an adapter plug 1812 at oneend which plugs into a jack of handheld device 1802. At the other end ofthe adapter cable 1816 is an adapter jack 1814 that is molded into, orotherwise integrally made part of, shell base 1804. An externalaccessory, such as a pair of headphones, may then be plugged into theadapter jack 1814 while the handheld device 1802 in enclosed inprotective enclosure 1800. Alternatively, a one-piece adapter thatincludes both a jack 1814 and a plug 1812 without a cable 1816 may beintegrally disposed into shell base 1804.

Shell lid 1806 is adapted to retain an O-ring 1808 that seals theprotective enclosure 1800 when shell lid 1806 is latched tightly ontoshell base 1804 so that water cannot enter protective enclosure 1800.

FIG. 19 illustrates in the open position a crush-resistant,impact-resistant, watertight, protective enclosure 2000 for anelectronic device such as a laptop computer. The protective enclosure2000 may be manufactured in a manner similar to the enclosure of FIG. 13comprising an impact/crush resistant material such as glass-fiberreinforced engineered thermoplastic, such as for example, glassreinforced polycarbonate. It may also be made of thermoplasticpolycarbonate, thermoplastic polypropylene, thermoplasticacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, and thermoplastic compositionscontaining one or more thereof, or other engineered thermoplastics thatprovide a shock-resistant and impact resistant shell.

The inside of the enclosure is covered with a hook and loop liner 2002.Shock absorbing corner bumpers 2004 have hook and loop type bases sothat they may attach at any point on the liner inside the enclosure atthe corners of the electronic device to secure electronic devices ofvarious sizes and provides a shock absorbent suspension system for thedevices. The shape of the bumpers may vary in size and in depth. Theymay also vary such that the laptop is raised a predetermined height forthe bottom of the enclosure so that there may be access to the ports andexternal drives such as CD and DVD. These bumpers allow the enclosure tobe adaptable to any size laptop computer by placing it inside theenclosure and securing it into position with the bumpers 2004. Straps2006 also secures the laptop into position. FIG. 20 illustrates a laptop2008 secured in position as described above. An opening for a door ordocking position 2010 may be provided that allows the case to beprewired for power or other USB connections. The watertight access portsmay include holes that have a moveable watertight plug, or any type ofwatertight button or lever.

The liner 2002 may also have some cushioning that cushions the laptopand protects it against breakage if the enclosure and laptop are droppedor otherwise subjected to shock. Normally, however, most of thecushioning is provided by the corner bumpers and the liner is notcushioned. In accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 19, the liner 2002has a thickness of approximately 0.25.

This enclosure is also adaptable to protect PC tablets of the typeillustrated in FIG. 13A. The hook and loop liner may be adjacent to thetouch screen but does not exert mechanical pressure on the touch screenso that mechanical inputs such as style stokes are sensed only whenintended. The engineered thermoplastics may be reinforced with glassfibers, carbon fibers, metal fibers, polyamide fibers and mixturesthereof. Referring to FIG. 21 the enclosure 2000 may have an elevatedprotective rim 2012 substantially surrounding a perimeter of theenclosure. This rim may be further reinforced with stiffeners made ofsteel or other hard material that are integrally embedded into theenclosure so that the stiffeners provide additional strength andprotection to the enclosed devices, as shown in FIG. 13B. An adjustableheavy-duty handle 2016 may be attached to or integrally designed intoprotective enclosure 2000 to allow easy and reliable transportation.

FIG. 22 illustrates the top of the enclosure wherein heavy-duty cornerbumpers, such as bumper 2016, provide additional protection againstmechanical shock and are securely attached to the corners of the base.The ribs 2012 also substantially surround a perimeter of the base of theenclosure.

FIG. 23 illustrates a front view of the protective enclosure 2000. Anaddition protective rib 2018 is provided along the front of the case andextends around the case on the ends, as shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 25 illustrates the back of the protective enclosure wherein anopening 2010 is provided in the protective enclosure 2000 which issealed with a rubber plug 2020. The plug 2020 of the USB hub is shown inmore detail in FIG. 26. The USB cable hub allows the protectiveenclosure 2000 to be wired for both power as well as USB connections. Inaddition, provisions may be made to provide ventilation for theenclosure through opening 2010.

FIG. 26 illustrates the USB hub 2021. The hub has mounting aperturessuch as 2022 that are disposed to receive fasteners to mount the hubinside of the protective enclosure 2000. A USB connecter 2024, that isdisposed to connect to a USB slot in a computer laptop or PC tabletcomputer, is connected by a cable 2026 to the hub 2020.

FIG. 27 illustrates the integrated USB hub 2021 mounted in the enclosure2000. The cable 2026 and USB connector 2024 allow a laptop computer orother computer to be connected to the USB hub 2021. The corner bumpers2004 are disposed to be removeably attached to the enclosure lining 2002so that the computer may be moved to a new location or the inside of theprotective enclosure 2000 to facilitate the making of a connectionbetween a laptop computer and the hub 2020. The hook and loop liner2005, that is attached to the base of the shock absorbing corner bumpers2004, extends beyond the base dimensions by a predetermined amount toincrease the adhesion between the bumpers 2004 and liner 2002 of theenclosure 2000.

FIG. 28 illustrates how the USB assembly comprising the hub 2021, cable2026, and connector 2026 may be mounted in an enclosure for a PC tabletprotective enclosure such as 1400 shown in FIG. 14.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, andother modifications and variations may be possible in light of the aboveteachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the inventionin various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims beconstrued to include other alternative embodiments of the inventionexcept insofar as limited by the prior art.

1. A protective enclosure for a handheld electronic device having acapacitance-sensing interactive control panel comprising: a shell thatsurrounds and encloses said handheld device when said handheld device isdisposed in said shell, said handheld device being a separate unit fromsaid protective enclosure, said handheld device being insertable in andremovable from said enclosure by hand, said shell being substantiallycrush-resistant and impact resistant, said shell having an aperture thatis aligned with said capacitance-sensing interactive control panel; aprotective membrane that is fixed to said shell over an aperture in saidshell so that said protective membrane is recessed with respect to anouter surface of said shell, said protective membrane disposed over saidcapacitance-sensing interactive control panel of said handheld devicewhen said handheld device is disposed in said enclosure, said protectivemembrane being sufficiently thin and having a dielectric constant thatallows capacitive inputs on a front side of said protective membrane tobe transmitted to said capacitance-sensing interactive control panelthrough said protective membrane; wherein said protective membrane has adielectric constant in the range of 2.2 to 3.8; wherein said protectivemembrane is made of engineered thermoplastic selected from the groupconsisting of thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polypropylene,thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and thermoplasticcompositions containing one or more thereof; wherein said protectivemembrane has a thickness in the range of 0.003 inches to 0.020 inches;and wherein said protective membrane has a matte texture, said texturehaving a texture depth of 0.0004 to 0.003 inches that reduce the surfacearea of said protective membrane that is in frictional contact with auser's finger and permits said user's finger to glide smoothly upon thesurface of the membrane without sticking. 2-5. (canceled)
 6. Theprotective enclosure of claim 1 wherein said shell is made frompolyethylene.
 7. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein saidprotective membrane is releasably fixed to said shell for replacement.8. The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein said protective membraneis integrally fixed to said shell.
 9. A method of protecting anelectronic device having a capacitance-sensing interactive control panelcomprising: providing a protective shell that is crush-resistant andimpact-resistant, said protective shell surrounding and enclosing saiddevice when said device is disposed in said protective shell, saiddevice being a separate unit from said protective enclosure, said devicebeing insertable in and removable from said shell by hand; providing anaperture in said shell that is aligned with said capacitance-sensinginteractive control panel when said device is disposed in saidprotective enclosure; and providing a protective membrane that is fixedto said shell so that said protective membrane is disposed over saidcapacitance-sensing interactive control panel of said device when saiddevice is disposed in said enclosure and said protective membrane isrecessed from an outer surface of said shell, said protective membranebeing sufficiently thin and having dielectric constant that allowscapacitive inputs on a front side of said protective membrane to becommunicated to said capacitance-sensing interactive control panelthrough said protective membrane.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein saidprotective membrane is releasably fixed to said protective shell forreplacement.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein said protective membraneis integrally fixed to said protective shell.